You've traveled a long and hard road to get back on your feet and restore your health after a long period of drug addiction. You've got a good job and restored your relationship with your family and friends, along with anyone else you may have betrayed in the throes of addiction.

In short, you are alive again and have every reason to smile when you wake up each morning. However, the years of neglect have taken a toll on your teeth. Although you have gotten dental work to repair most of your dental issues, your teeth still look terrible.

Why not go the extra mile and have your teeth capped with veneers?

What are veneers?

Veneers are very thin caps that are cemented to the front of teeth that are cosmetically unattractive. Your teeth may be discolored, broken, misshapen, or just a glaring mismatch with the rest of your smile. Veneers are designed to change the shape of your teeth and to brighten your smile, or at least make the color of your teeth consistent if many of them are in good shape.

How are veneers produced?

You will go to a dentist at a place like Advanced Family Dental Care LLC for an initial consultation to inform the dentist about the results you would like to achieve, such as the specific teeth that you wish to cover with veneers. The dentist will examine your teeth to determine what is possible.

You may need to get x-rays or impressions of your teeth to facilitate the production of the veneers.

The dentist will also remove some of the enamel from the front of the teeth that will get veneers. Impressions will be made of the newly shaved teeth and sent to a lab that actually produces the veneers. you can choose between porcelain veneers, which most resemble natural teeth, and resin compounds, which are less expensive but lack a little of the natural look of porcelain.

How are veneers attached to your teeth?

The dentist will clean the teeth and roughen the surface slightly so that cement that is used to attach the veneers to the teeth will bond properly. Before the actual cementing takes place, the dentist will position the veneer on the tooth multiple times, shaping it if necessary. 

When the veneer is cemented into place, the cement is then cured by a special light used for bonding. The veneer is then permanently  attached, and can last for years before being replaced.

Of course, you need to take care of the veneer as you would your natural teeth to avoid staining and discoloration. This shouldn't be a problem. Now that you have every reason to smile, you'll be extra vigilant in keeping it bright.